Community Series in enhancing T Cell function: Innovations in cancer immunotherapy, Volume III

This Research Topic is the second volume of the “Immune Responses Against Tumors - From the Bench to the Bedside” Community Series. Please see Volume I here and Volume II here..Cancer immunotherapy has been revolutionized by targeting specific immune subsets within the tumor microenvironment, where T cells play a pivotal role. Gene-engineered T cell strategies and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have emerged as powerful approaches to reinvigorate tumor-infiltrating T cells, demonstrating considerable promise in clinical outcomes. However, challenges persist, particularly the limited in vivo persistence of adoptively transferred T cells and the variable patient response rates to ICB therapy. Key barriers include T cell exhaustion and the immunosuppressive milieu of the tumor microenvironment. Consequently, a deep understanding of functional modulation of these immune subsets is urgently needed to enhance the efficacy and safety of various T cell therapies, such as Tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL-T), T cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-T), and Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T).This Research Topic aims to explore and identify crucial targets and pathways for overcoming immune dysregulation in the tumor microenvironment. We seek to advance our understanding of these complexities by discussing innovative techniques that could augment T cell antitumor functionality. Contributions that unveil novel approaches or refine existing methods to boost the therapeutic potential of T cells in cancer treatment are particularly encouraged.To gather further insights into the underlying mechanisms and optimize therapeutic strategies in cancer immunotherapy, this Research Topic is focused on exploring both basic and clinical advancements. The below themes will prove critical in pushing the frontier of T cell-based therapies and improving patient outcomes in the face of cancer. We invite submissions that are dealing with:o New immune subsets mediating antitumor immunityo Checkpoints that limit the polarization and expansion of antitumor immune subsetso Responses of T cell subsets to checkpoint blockade immunotherapyo The role of stem-like CD8+ T cells within the tumor microenvironmento Pathways and mechanisms promoting the expansion of antitumor stem-like CD8+ T cellso Enhancing the efficiency and persistence of TCR-T and CAR-T cell therapieso Influence of tumor-associated macrophages on T cell functionManuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this topic.Please note Dr. Valentyn Oksenych is a founder of and affiliated with his own consulting company, Oslo Bioconsulting, but it does not influence his role as an editor, reviewer, or researcher. Topic editors: Xuefeng Wang, Valentyn Oksenych Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84859/community-series-in-enhancing-t-cell-function-innovations-in-cancer-immunotherapy-volume-iii